[D&D 4E PbP] Wyrm Mutilators - Recruiting

delroland

When the last orc has fallen, when the realm has been saved once again, when the princess is not in another castle... what else is there left for the brave, the stalwart, the crafty, the devious? With a trail of conquests trailing behind you (as they are wont to do), only one foe remains: a creature of such awesome destructive power that the gods named the very rules of the multiverse after their fearsome might. No beast, its severed head lying bloody under your triumphant boot, more screams to the onlooker, "Gaze upon me and tremble, for I am High Lord Penultimate Badass!" It is for these exact reasons (and none other!) that you and your companions wind your way up a treacherous and frozen wind-blown hangnail of a mountain pass to face in its own lair the dreaded DRAGON.

Let's mutilate some wyrms!

---

Wyrm Mutilators is a campaign of mini-adventures each surrounding the engagement and defeat of the most iconic foes of Dungeons & Dragons. (I'll give you a hint, it's in the name.) These encounters will be completely combat-oriented and are intended as a demonstration of the new mechanics for dragons contained in the Essentials boxed set, Monster Vault. However, I encourage participants to role play as they see fit, with an eye to audience entertainment value.

Character Creation:
Each character should be created at level 17 using standard point buy (22 points + level bumps). Any race except the so-called "NPC races" (kobold, goblin, duergar, etc) is allowed, as is any published non-hybrid, non-playtest class. Special consideration will be given to characters built using the Essentials classes, but if you have a super cool idea for a non-Essentials character, don't hesitate to submit it. The new variable racial modifiers are useable as well (i.e. elves get Dex and either Int or Wisdom). Starting equipment will be standard: one item of level 18, one of 17, and one of 16, as well as 45,000 gold pieces that can be spent on anything (within reason: I don't care how good of a beastmaster ranger you are, I'm not going to let you start with two million chickens). Disposable items are not automatically replaced between fights, but you will receive new items and gold between each encounter.

Essentially, if the character can be created using the Character Builder software, then it is most likely allowed in this game.

Each player may submit up to three characters, as long as each character has a different role.

Any questions, post them here or PM me. I'd like for each player to post at least once per day, as well as have a set block of time either Saturday or Sunday to power post. I'd like to run one fight a week, but more than likely it will take a bit longer.

---

The final group consists of:

Merric Winterleaf, Halfling Weaponmaster Fighter as played by dresdenphile
Valdis, Devout Storm Warpriest of Umberlee as played by Aegis
Wendyllowyn - Eladrin Thief as played by Grog
Alénthian, Eladrin Avenger of Corellon as played by Kay
Sinjari, Genasi Wizard as played by sandster

Aegis

How much background are you looking for for applications, or is that a secondary consideration given the combat-focused nature of the mini-adventures?

Also, deadline?

delroland

Background is taking the back burner here, though it may very well be the tie-breaker between two equally optimized character builds. If this were an olympic event, the three judges would score build, compatibility, and style, in that order of importance.

Let's give sign-ups a week as of yesterday, so August 31 is the last day for submission.

Grog

Why is it whenever I see a paragon recruitment thread I immediately come up with a ridiculous hybrid? And then multiclass it?

Rius

Level 17 would be one hell of a hexblade.

dresdenphile

What about Backgrounds and Themes?

Aegis

Uriel, Justicar Cavalier

Portrait:

Background & Personality:

Uriel hails from the radiant realms gracing the upper and more civilized locations strewn about the Astral Sea. A knight in service of the Heavenly Host, her years have been divided between assisting those in need and of pure heart with their troubles and as a mounted retainer to the side of Light in the endless Blood War within the Planes Below. With her as long as she can remember is Taharial, her winged steed, a trusted friend and companion that is in his own right a veteran of many pitched battles with the forces of darkness. Lately she has found herself in a bit of a rut, the Blood War having entered its period of calm and recuperation for all sides and the Prime uncharacteristically devoid of noble quests requiring heavenly aid. As such she has opted to participate in this dragon quest learned about from some fellow knights, both to hone her skill between more substantive battles and to end the threat of these generally vile beasts.

The Justicar's countenance is as sharp as any blade, able to pivot at the slightest hint of danger. Her own memories stretching back thousands of years through the memories of countless incarnations of past ancestors, she is completely devoted to her cause that has been waged ever since the dawn of creation. As such, her commitment is resolute and codified: defend the innocent and destroy the wicked. She comes off as confident, reassuring, helpful and deferential to the former while displaying an aura of righteousness, unwavering devotion and uncompromising zeal to the latter (at least, just before their deaths). These virtues also render her quick to judge, which can complicate interactions with those who happen to either betray, lie, or perform other dishonoured acts. Once generated, her opinion of an individual is highly unlikely to be altered.

Mount Statistics:

Taharial (Celestial Pegasus)
Large Immortal Beast (Mount)
HP 63/63 - AC 37; Fort 33, Ref 32, Will 34
Immune: Fear, Charm
Saving Throws: +1 (+6 vs Poison); Rerolls 1 saving throw at end of each turn.
Speed 8, Fly 8

Spirited Charge: +3 bonus to attack rolls of rider's charges instead of standard +1. If charge hits, rider makes a saving throw.
(B)Kick - Melee 1, +22 vs AC, 2d8+10
Flyby Attack (Encounter)

I've been meaning to have some fun with mounts and the Cavalier now makes mounts not suck, so whee!

delroland

Backgrounds and themes are fine, but no campaign-specific backgrounds or themes. In fact, for simplicity's sake, you can just take a +2 to one skill or add one skill to your class list instead of taking a background if you want (since that's pretty much what they do).

Also, where are cavaliers from?

Aegis

Heroes of Forgotten Kingdoms. They're (one of) the paladin essentials class.

delroland

Ah, yes. But where does the mount come in? IIRC, the cavalier didn't get a mount, but rather got utility powers that let them channel a celestial mount's spirit or some such.

Aegis

Ah, Dragon 393. It added mount options to cavaliers:

Benefit: Instead of your Pace of the Virtuous Charger class feature, you gain the call celestial steed power.

The Muffin Man

delroland wrote:

Backgrounds and themes are fine, but no campaign-specific backgrounds or themes. In fact, for simplicity's sake, you can just take a +2 to one skill or add one skill to your class list instead of taking a background if you want (since that's pretty much what they do).

Also, where are cavaliers from?

Would it be cool if I took Auspicious Birth/Born under a bad sign? I like the extra HP since, as a wizard, it's always nice having a big chunk of health to go along with my Reflex and AC being abnormally high (And my Will but that's normal).

Rius

More like "Auspicious Birth, just like everyone else" and "Born under a bad min/max"

Kay

So, Aegis tells me I should throw in an app here.

I am tempted to see how my Paladin/Warlock hybrid fares at level 17, it should be interesting! Also, as Rius says, that would make one HELL of a Hexblade.

Rius

I will probably endeavor to upgrade my OCB again to try sorting a Hexblade out. I am also kind of intrigued by all the myriad assassin/executioner/thief hybrid opportunities but it's such a mess of messes.

Kay

Assassin hybrid is a TRAP!

Aegis

Pfft, you people and your hexblades.

Rius

I actually started playing one in Aegeri's maptools game... and then his PC died >< Right as I was settling into the groove, too.

Gloom Pact is just ridiculously cool and there are many fun things you can do with it.

A level 17 Thief would probably be hilarious, too. I could make a Drow one... abuse the heck out of two-fisted shooter.

Aegis

Two-fisted Shooter, Drow-Fighting Style, Crossbow Expertise, Steady Shooter?

Actually sounds kind of scary.

Rius

It is very crazy, yeah.

I wonder if any of the "dragon killer" paragon paths are actually any good. I usually look right over them since they're so content-specific.

Aegis

If you're going for Rogue, Hoard Raider might be a path worth looking at.

Grog

From what I looked at, they're pretty pants compared to alot of other pps

delroland

No hybrids. It's in the character creation stuff at the top.

I'm looking for the standard defender/leader/controller/2 striker setup, and hybrids muddy that.

The Muffin Man wrote:

Would it be cool if I took Auspicious Birth/Born under a bad sign? I like the extra HP since, as a wizard, it's always nice having a big chunk of health to go along with my Reflex and AC being abnormally high (And my Will but that's normal).

I'm going to say no to the Scales of War backgrounds, as well as any from Dragon 371.

If you need more hit points, just take Toughness. It grants 10 at the Paragon tier.

sandster

Hat. In. Ring.

Sinjari, Genasi Wizard (Essentials Mage)

Sinjari is a thin man with gangly, scarecrow-like appendages. His skin is an ashen gray, and an inner flame radiates from his pupils, not unlike like smoldering coals. Set dead in the middle of his forehead, just peeking beneath a mop of silver hair, is an indelible symbol of a stylized scimitar.

The pyrokinetic dresses warmly — layers of leather and silk capped by expensive scarves — regardless of climate, as if trying to maintain some kind of internal temperature. An obsidian blade resembling a lick of flame always lies in easy reach, slung along his side.

His smile comes easily — two parts mischief, two parts spontaneous fun, and perhaps one part homicidal mania — but those that have spent time around him know that a tempestuous anger can erupt just as swiftly.

dresdenphile

My three entries:

Varis Brightfall, Elf Sorceror
Jenneth Groley, Human Hunter
Merric Winterleaf, Halfling Weaponmaster Fighter

Aegis

What's the verdict on Eberron-specific feats, namely, Marks?

Aegis

Valdis, Devout Storm Warpriest of Umberlee



Background & Personality:

The Bitch Queen was never one for subtlety or displaying patience for her subjects' attempts at placating her. Rather, one was to earn one's place in the world through struggle against the storm that was life, thrown at you with little regard for fairness or compassion. The small tribe of genasi that Valdis had been a part of learned this lesson the hard way as their whole existence was slowly whittled down over generations by the predatory dominance of flights of ancient dragons. A few put up a fight here and there and those that were able to survive, to persist, or even to simply escape into the wilder world were made more hardy for it. Valdis was one of these Genasi and he did escape, though he did not plan to leave forever. Instead, he'd ensure that with the help of the storm that all those winged abominations that plagued his land would soon be rotting in the ground.

Valdis is uncompromising and rather gruff in person. He sets his sight on a goal or target and pursues that with utmost determination, though not entirely without forethought if others provide useful information or assistance. His hard upbringing has left him without much sense of patience for the frivolities of others, however.

Hard-hitting leader as I was intrigued by the various Domain options offered by the Essentials' take on the Cleric. Didn't end up bothering with Mark of Storm after all as I didn't see much point in the long run (that and the paragon path it was required for, while nice, didn't strike me as nice as Devout Warpriest).

The Muffin Man

delroland wrote:

No hybrids. It's in the character creation stuff at the top.

I'm looking for the standard defender/leader/controller/2 striker setup, and hybrids muddy that.

The Muffin Man wrote:

Would it be cool if I took Auspicious Birth/Born under a bad sign? I like the extra HP since, as a wizard, it's always nice having a big chunk of health to go along with my Reflex and AC being abnormally high (And my Will but that's normal).

I'm going to say no to the Scales of War backgrounds, as well as any from Dragon 371.

If you need more hit points, just take Toughness. It grants 10 at the Paragon tier.

Better yet, I'll make a Rogue!

If you can hit me, I probably wasn't trying hard enough. Especially the way I built him, cuz goddamn.

Thomas Burke, Human Artful Dodger Rogue.

The creators a bit off. That should be 34 AC (wielding two weapons, one of which is a parrying dagger), 38 vs AoO. Doing the math, an adult red dragon with, in conjunction with some of my encounters, cannot hit me unless it crits.
How's THAT for combat oriented!

Background

"Stop, Thief!"
For once, Tom was not the recipient of the cries, as he skulked around the rooftops. A heavy goliath charged through the crowd, shoving shopkeepers down, smashing through carts, and generally being a nuisance.
"Some people have no respect for others property..." he sigh, completely unironically chewing on a peach he had "borrowed" from one of the aforementioned vendors, "Ah well. Time to earn my keep."
He discarded the peach, and gave chase (which was surprisingly difficult, given the size of the thing), as it was bursting its' way through doorways and throwing guards aside. They were cornered in an alleyway, the guards all arguing over who should call for backup.
"Oh, good. The Coward Brigade is here. Well, never send the law to do a thieves job." He dropped down, immediately realizing the difference in size between himself and the, well, OTHER thief.
"Don't make me laugh. You ain't gonna stop me."
"Avandra's Grace, you're a female Goliath."
Eric spotted the purse full of coins she clutched. A clumsy fist sailed past his head. A quick step, and a stick of his rapier left a bloody mark.
"Still clumsy as the males, I see."
Punch after punch was thrown, and cut after cut was left. It wasn't long before her head began to spin, leaving her dizzy and panting.
"You...little..." With a grunt, she collapsed. Tom helped himself to a few coins before the guards arrived to "help". He offered a bow to the men.
"A thousand cuts can do more than a hundred gaping wounds. You'll do good to remember that."
The guard captain approached, slapping manacles on him before he could move.
"Oh come on, isn't this a bit cliche?"

"You're good, Burke. But you're predictable."
"Let me guess. You've been tailing me for 6 months, waiting for me to slip up, and now you got your chance, and now you'll be promoted!" he mocked, "I've heard it a thousand times. You can't kill me, as nothing I've done merits execution. So, why don't you just put me in a cell, give me a fork for dinner, and I promise I won't bend the prongs when I pick the lock with it, sound good?"
"Shut it. You're not going to jail."
"Oh. Saving the trouble of even putting me in the jail? Works for me."
"Nope. You've been drafted." The Guard Captain shoved a letter in Thomas' face.
"Blah blah blah...king...dragons...RICHES? I'm in."
"Not like you had a choice, but welcome aboard."
Thomas offered his (quite un-manacled) hand. The Guard Captain raised a brow, "Starting to see why your 'skill set' was so important after all."
"I'll leave your wallet on your desk."
"Appreciate it."

delroland

Aegis wrote:

What's the verdict on Eberron-specific feats, namely, Marks?

Negatory. Marks would be kind of pointless anyways.

delroland

The Muffin Man wrote:

The creators a bit off. That should be 34 AC (wielding two weapons, one of which is a parrying dagger), 38 vs AoO.

Not if the TWD feat and the defensive weapon property are both shield bonuses.

Edit: no, that's not it, but double check your other feats and class features to make sure you aren't duplicating bonuses.

The Muffin Man

Just checked it again, and now it says 34 like it should. Odd. I'll update the sheet and maybe it'll fix it.
EDIT: There, now it properly says 34 AC.

Aegis

Only one day left, woo!

Grog

Resting his boots on the polished mahogany desk, the newly appointed grand magister sighed and pulled out an intricately carved pipe. Clicking a spark to life in the tobacco, a wisp of green smoke wound it's way above his head.
"Oh don't start. How was I to know they'd send me off against a bloody dragon? I thought magisters just sat in towers and gave sagely advice until they died."
The smoke curled impassively.
"Are you mad? In case you haven't been paying attention, I'm not a bloody wizard. What am I supposed to do? Hit it with a stick?"
He rubbed his temple, looking as if he was listening to something he'd heard more than once that day.
"Fine, fine. But if I die, the last words you'll hear is 'I told you so.'"

Wendyllowyn - Eladrin Thief

Thought I'd give a teleporter build a go. Basically works around the thief movement powers + Staff of the Traveler + Evermeet Lvl11 feature (invisible to anyone I teleport away from). Once I'm adjacent to an enemy I can use Escape artist's trick to teleport 7 away, charge with CA, then teleport 7 again as a free action. Can also take people with me for some flanking fun too!

Swapped the free lvl18 item for the staff and took the Iliyanbruen Guardian theme and the sun elf proficiencies from Neverwinter. Let me know if you object to either of those.

delroland

So far this is what we have:

Defenders
Uriel, Justicar Cavalier (Aegis)
Merric Winterleaf, Halfling Weaponmaster Fighter (dresdenphile)

Leaders
Valdis, Devout Storm Warpriest of Umberlee (Aegis)

Strikers
Varis Brightfall, Elf Sorceror (dresdenphile)
Thomas Burke, Human Artful Dodger Rogue (The Muffin Man)
Wendyllowyn - Eladrin Thief (Grog)

Controllers
Sinjari, Genasi Wizard (sandster)
Jenneth Groley, Human Hunter (dresdenphile)

Did I miss anyone?

Assuming no more submissions, the group will be:

Merric Winterleaf (dresdenphile)
Valdis (Aegis)
Thomas Burke (The Muffin Man)
Wendyllowyn (Grog)
Sinjari (sandster)

Kay

I'm trying to put a submission together, but I'm having trouble getting the offline builder to work. It keeps merging .parts, then telling me to contact customer service.

If I don't get it working this time, I'll go without putting a submission in.

The Muffin Man

Kay wrote:

I'm trying to put a submission together, but I'm having trouble getting the offline builder to work. It keeps merging .parts, then telling me to contact customer service.

If I don't get it working this time, I'll go without putting a submission in.

There should be some sort of help in the wiki for it.

Kay

I got it working. Charbuild time go.

dresdenphile

Two Genasi? That's crazy!

Thanks for selecting me; I'm looking forward to it! (assuming no one bumps me...)

Aegis

Almost opposing Genasi too which is amusing!

Kay

Sorry this is so late.

Alénthian, Eladrin Avenger of Corellon.

Alénthian has a shard of spring's beauty within him - he has always known that, as have his family. 'The Eyes of the Laughing Lord' were something he was blessed with at birth. As he grew in faith, the divine potential within him was focused, trained and polished by the priests of Corellon into something beautiful and deadly. He was trained as a priest and warrior, a defender of the ancient Eladrin cities, with an appreciation for their craft and beauty, unlike human cities, or the cavern homes of the dwarves.

Like most of his kin, Alénthian had an appreciation for life's finer things. Unlike them, he was unable to take anything but the most important things too seriously. He wanted to enjoy life, and enjoy living. He wanted to explore, to be out in the world in order to protect it, while experiencing everything it had to offer. Once he was considered an adult, he left the sheltering comfort of his city and had many adventures.

Now, he has returned, with an appreciation for the way other races do things, though his racial identity is still strong. And he likes slaying dragons - there's an art to it, you see. And he loves his art.

Soooo. Alénthian is an Eladrin Warrior, but unlike most he's not prim, proper and stuck up. He's more like the whimsical, flighty ideals attributed to the capricious God he follows, rather than the grim and serious 'elven noble' most worldly folk might be familiar with. Mechanics-wise, he likes pushing people around with his exceptionally graceful movements and dumping them on their behinds, using a long spear of Eladrin design, imbued with Corellon's aspect as the Stormlord. The theme I picked seemed to fit a woodland warrior, and though it's all barbarian-like, I was hoping to reflavour it to more of a forest guerilla sort. Anyhow, sorry this was late again, and I hope it's an interesting enough build and all.

Oh, he has wings, too. Wings are cool.

Aegis

Kay wrote:

Oh, he has wings, too. Wings are cool.

So what you're saying is: he's an Avariel?